Apple has been launching its iPad and iPad mini together during the last quarter of the year over the last three years. But if latest rumors are to be believed, it looks like the latest mini-tablet from the American tech giant, the iPad mini 4, will be launching ahead of the company’s next iPad line.
According to Macworld, there are reports coming out that Apple will not be launching any upgrades to the iPad Air 2 this year because the company wants to make a grand entrance for the iPad Pro, its rumored giant iPad line.
Reports have it that Apple wants the October launching of the iPad Pro all to itself so much so the company has moved the official roll out of the iPad mini 4 ahead by a month, which means that the latest mini-tablet from the Cupertino-based tech company will be launched alongside the new iPhones.
The same reports also cited that the company will not be launching an iPad Air 3 this year but instead will come up with an upgrade of its iPad Air 2 next year. With the massive upgrade that the iPad Air 2 has taken from its predecessor, the iPad Air, it seems that the American tech company has found it really a challenge to make any further upgrades to the iPad Air 2 in just a short span of time.
Minimal upgrades
According to Tech Times, the iPad mini 4 will only offer minimal upgrades compared to its predecessor, the iPad mini 3, which somehow countered previous reports that the mini-tablet will essentially be a small version of the iPad Air 2.
The outlet also cited that the iPad mini 4 will possibly be launched with the latest iPhones of Apple, reportedly the iPhone 6S and the iPhone 6S Plus on September 9.
Apple has already announced its “One More Thing” event for September 9, but it has yet to make any other details on what devices it is planning to launch during the occasion.
But according to Macworld, the iPad mini 4 will feature a split-screen view, some multi-tasking features, and will possibly run on iOS 9.
While it has been perceived previously that the split view was not possible for the iPad mini because of its size, it appears that the new processor to be used on the iPad mini 4 will already enable the mini-tablet to support such feature. The iPad mini 4 will be using the A8X processor, which is the same one being used on the iPad Air 2.
Lower price when it comes out
In order to arrest the plummeting tablet sales which have greatly affected its iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 3 launched in October last year, it has been reported that Apple will be reducing the retail price of its upcoming iPad mini 4.
In addition to an expected lower price compared to the iPad mini 3, the Apple iPad mini 4 is rumored to feature a lighter and thinner chassis.
Reputable industry analysts Ming-Chi Kuo of KGI Securities, who is also a reliable source for information regarding Apple products, was the first to disclose that the iPad mini 4 will essentially be a mini version of the iPad Air 2.
Ming-Chi Kuo also confirmed the fall release of the latest iPad mini including previous reports that the device would be lighter and thinner in addition to the likelihood that the mini-tablet would sport an upgraded processor.
While Apple has yet to confirm the initial reports, speculations are rife that the iPad mini 4 will come out with a retail price of £299 or approximately $463, which is cheaper than the iPad mini 3, which is currently priced at £319 or approximately $494.